The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-22

eha oovernment should be applied to tho extinc-
ton of the national debt until every dollar was
eytiaguisned-the views of the President to the
eontrary Notwithstanding He himself had new
er believed in accommodating large sums OF mon
ey in the treasury, and be had always urged on
the Senate the cutting down or the surplus to
the lowest possible sum. He believed in a poor
treasury and a rich people. He was in favor of
paying every dollar fast it into the
treasury, first in the pay ment of current oDliga-
tions of the government, and second, in the pay
ment of the debt. He presumed, of course that
tho adjournment resolution would pass, but he
believed that it would not be with fair regard
to the public interests TO the duty which rest
ed Senators and Representatives
Mr.. Beck said he did not propose to go into
debate in regard to the Presidents policy on a
resolution for holiday adjournment lie as
sumed that the resolution would prevail. Such
a recess was usual, and he did not know any
exception to It He could.not understand why
the Senate should now. on motion like that,
go into discussion as TO the Presidents policy
whom they would have ali next year for 1t. But
there were some things which the country
ought to know IN connection with the statement
made by the Senator from Kansas The Sena-
tor had not told the country that the policy OF
the Republican party, by imposing and main
tanning unnecessary high taxation, had pro-
duced the treasury surplus and that that same
party was determined to hold it there or to
waste 1t in such schemes Is the Republican
party might desire. The Senator had not
told the country that tho Republican
party had SO adjusted the debts Of the United
States that they could not be paid with the
money thus brought by high taxation into the
treasury, unless such premiums were PAID to
the ondholders they might dem and. The
policy of the Repu blcan party had postponed
the payment of $3.50, 900. 900 of the debt till
1891 and $40 900 900 till 1907 The President
had paid every dollar of the per cent bonds
that were payable, without paying the premium
which bondhoders might see fit to ask. The
Democratic party, headed by the President,
was endeavoring to reduce taxes so that SO
large o surplus should not come into the treas
ury. All that the President had said was that
tary of the Treasury to do to pay $3.50 or $l50
for every hundred dollars of the public debt,
and IL was the duty of Congress to reduce the
taxation of the people down TO point that
there would not be II surplus. He thought that
the course of the President and of the Demo
cratic party would be fully indicated. while it
would be very hard for gentlemen on the other
side to explain why they had kept up taxation to
he extent which they had done.
Mr. Dolph argued that if proper appropria-
tions were made for rivers and harbors. for pub
tic buildings for coast line Notifications for de-
pendent pensioners, for the encouragement of
American commerce and for the Nicaraguan ca
nal. there would be no surplus in the treasury;
and he thought that such policy was to be pre-
ferred to a reduction OF the tariff. II Senators
would but take their eyes from the increasing
surplus in the treasury, land cease to bemoan
the prosperity of the country and to make the
people dissatisfied with the burden of taxation
(which they did not feel), and would devote
their energies to the development OF the coun-
sry's resources (inclding manufactures. ships.
farms, mines and forests), they would be wiser
than they were.
Mr.. Vest SAID. in reference to what he called
Dir. Doiphs solicitude for rebuilding the Ame-i-
can marine, that there was bill pending. intro
dnced by Senator Cameron, in behalf Of the Red
Star line OF steamers from Philadelphia, line
owned entirely by American citizens, giving the
privilege of sailing sixteen steamers of that line
under the American flag, in order to carry it to
foreign ports. and he undertook to say that not
one Republican Senator would record his vote in
favor of that bill. The Senator from Oregon,
with all his solicitude for the American mer-
chant marine, would not vote for it. And whya
Because Republican Senators did not propose to
touch the infamous navigation laws or make 8
break in the solid compact which they had made
with the protected industries of the country by
tariff legislation. They feared lest crevasse
might be created in that long line of protected
industries which might result in a deluge. In
response to Dir. Plumb's criticism Of the Presi-
dent for vetoing the river and harbor bill. he re-
tacks upon that bill had come from himself
Mr.. Plumb. He had fought the bill by sec
tions and in the aggregate. had ridicued
IT, denounced 1t and voted against it. The
ecutive had only acted in the lire of the Sena-
tors arguments. The President had, in lis
nual message, defined, and sharply de-
parties. and he Mr.. Vest Endorsed
that message from beginning to end. He was
prepared to go into the canvass upon 1t. and
whatever the result might be, he declared now.
publicly. that if the President had done nothing
less than write that message he had proven
himself to be an honest, brave. patriotic man,
and worthy OF the leadership OF any party JQat
ever existed in the history of this country.
Mr.. Plumb alluded TO the fact that notwith-
standing the alarm which the President had
spoken of in his message, the Democratic
House of Representatives was not even yet or
ganized in its committees, and that the only
Spouse which the House had made to that cry
of alarm was the passage or bill to pay
mo nth's extra compensation to lot OF its own
employees whom il had discharged in order to
give their Offices to another lot.
Mr.. Teller severely criticised the President for
IL -
carry out pet scheme for reducing the tariff.
He argued that there not so much surplus
in the treasury as should necessitate any haste,
or cause any fright or alarm.
Mr.. Stewart was satisfied from the discussion
TO day that Congress ought not to adjourn for
the holidays As the surplus. he it
would continue to be locked up. If the only rem
edy was that suggested by the President-the
of the tariff. The issue presented TO
the American people by the President was
whether it would stop doing its own work and
hire it out. Nations well individuals got
rich by doing their own work. For his part, he
would regulate the matter, not by reducing but
by raising the tariff He was in favor of Con-
gress rema aiming in session during the holidays.
aud he would therefore vote against the resolu-
ton.
said that that committee had
the resolution because he believed the
general sentiment to be in favor of holiday
adjournment. The House had passed the reso-
luton without even a division. The Senate
could not promote the public interests by re-
naming in session while the House was in its
present unorganized condition. There were but
three ways of getting rid of the surplus. One
was the way presented by the Senator from
Kansas. and a very good way it was Another
was to increase appropriations, and the third
was to modify the tax laws Revenue measures
b ad TO originate in the House OF Representa-
tives and from the beginning of 1885 till now
no revenue measure had come from the House,
and none would come, certainly before the 4th
Of January. Therefore, he did not see that the
public interests could be advanced or pro-
noted by refusing the House the adjournment
which 1t asked
Mir. Plumb said that the House could not ad-
iourn without the concurrence of the Senate, and
would. therefore 20 to work if the resolution was
rejected. The House posed as the friend of the
people and the foe of monopoly. 1t needed,
however. the force of good example. 1t also
needed the focus of public OPINION.
Mr. Butler expressed contempt for the dis
gushing spectacle which the Senate was present
ing and for the affectation and hypocrisy ex-
hibited to-day. There was not q Senator who
did not know that all that said about the
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